Sectional steam-boiler



(N0 ModeL) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

' A. WORTHINGTON.

SEUTIONAL STEAM BOILER.

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2 SheetsSheet 2 PatentedJune 16, 1885.

A. WORTHINGTON.

SEGTIONAL STEAM BOILER.

UFFICE.

ATEN T AMASA \VORTHINGTON,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

SECTIONAL STEAM-BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,035, dated June 16, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMASA WoRTHINeToN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sectional Steam Boilers, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view partly in section and partly in elevation. Fig. 2 is a crosssection on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear end view in elevation. Fig. 4 is a plan view of one of my improved headers. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of one of the top series of headers cut through a line corresponding to that of33, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal sectional view in detail cut through the line 4. 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a modification of the form of header shown in Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is the same, connected with separate circulating-pipes.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different figures.

Much difiiculty has been heretofore experienced in the construction of water-tube boilers on account of the breakage and leakage of the headers, owing to the unequal expansion or contraction of the pipes as the same are heated and cooled. Di'fiiculty has also been found in preserving a uniform circulation in the pipes and preventing the water from churning therein, by reason of which the tubes are liable to become overheated, as well as in fully separating the steam from the water before reaching the eduction-pipe.

The aims of my invention are, primarily, to overcome these difficulties,as well as to provide a boiler which may be easily and readily cleaned, the heating-surface of which may be brought uniformly in contact with the products of combustion, and the various parts of which may, as far as practicable, be rendered interchangeable, thus decreasing the cost of constructing and repairing the same.

I accomplish said objects as follows: I place the tube at a considerable incline to the plane of the horizon, as is common in boilers of its class, with a steam-drum above and across said water-tubes and at such a distance therefrom that its induction and eduction circulatingpipes may be, preferably, not only of equal length, but sufficiently long to be flexible, thereby permitting an unequal expansion of the tubes without injury to said headers. I prefer, also, to place said induction-pipes upon a horizontal plane, and thus allow the steam to separate as much as possible from the water before reaching the steam-drum.

To obtain a more thorough circulation of the products of combustion, I prefer to place an arch above the firegratein order to throw the flames upon the forward part of the tubes. A diaphragm extending from the front of the boiler toward the rear, and preferably about two-thirds the distance, is placed across the boiler midway between the top and bottom and running lengthwise and parallel with said tubes. This serves to deflect the flame downward, and to convey the ashes to an ash-box in the rear of the bridge-wall. A second diaphragm above said tubes is extended from the rear a like distance in an opposite direction, thus reversing the course of movement of the heated gases and bringing the same in contact with the steam-drum and its connecting-pipes, above which is a dome, constructed of any suitable non-conducting material, for the purpose of forming a super-heating space between the same and said drum and pipes. A complete separation of the steam from the water is accomplished in the steam-drum by placing a partition or diaphragm lengthwise of the same above the water-level, leaving a space at one or both ends for the escape of steam to the eduction-pipe, which feature will form the subject of a future application.

The headers are preferably so constructed as to connect the tubes in pairs, one tube of each pair being connected, preferably by a wrought-iron pipe, to the corresponding tube in the next pair until the series is complete. As an incident to this adjustment, every other tube in the series stands laterally outward from its fellow,thus staggering thetubes of the various series and serving to break up the gases employed in heating the same. By placing every other tube at the side of the upward connecting-pipe the latter may be made much longer, thus giving it a suflicient flexibility to permit the expansion and contraction of the pipes without injury to said headers. Moreover, by this arrangement the connect to collect the sediment.

ing-pipes may be placed in a straight line, and by means of a suitable opening at the top, through which a mandrel may be inserted, the same may be replaced and expanded in position at will.

A suitable mud-drum at the bottom serves The upper ends of the tubes are covered with a plate to retain the heat, while hand-holes at the ends of the tubes and in the respective drums, covered and secured of each pair at the side of and preferably be low its fellow, as clearly shown in said figure. Said headers O are connected by connecting pipes D, Fig. 3, which may be expanded in any well-known manner into the openings of said headers. By reference to said Fig. 3, it is obvious that the heated gases passing between the pipes B must come in direct contact with and. pass around the pipes B, thus breaking up said gases and more effectually utilizing the heat of the same.

The headers O at the top of the respective series of pipes are likewise provided with openings for the reception of the water-pipes,

E, E, and B, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6, which is a longitudinal sectional view of one of said headers cut through the line 4 4,Fig. 3. An opening in the top of each of said headers O, stopped by a plug, 0, secured therein in the usual manner, admits of access to the connecting-pipes D, through which opening it is obvious that a mandrel may be inserted for expanding said connecting-pipes D in position. A crab or crow-foot, c, with a plate,c and bolt 0, arranged in the usual man ner, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6, serves to give access to the pipes B B for cleaning and replacing the same. I prefer to make said last named pipes, together with the pipes D, E, and E, large, in order that a free circulation may at all times be maintained, thus preventing the pipes B B from burning out.

As a modification of the construction of the headers and the mode of connecting them shown in Fig. 3, they may be, constructed as shown in Figs.7 and 8,in which case the pipes D may be equally long, thereby producing a corresponding flexibility, and the circulation may be from one to the other of the pipes B, through the connecting-pipes D,until the top of the series is reached,when the pipe B may connect with B, as shown in Fig. 7, or it may continue in a straight line, as in Fig. 8, in which event a separate circulating-pipe will be necessary to connect it with the drum I. Openings at the top provided with plugs 0 permit access to the interior of the pipes D for expanding the same.

F F, Figs. 1 and 2, are diaphragnis,preferably made of fire-brick,arranged,as shown,for deflecting the heated gases, thus increasing their efficiency and length of travel, the diaphragm F likewise serving to detle ct the ashes and cause the same to drop into the ash-box G, in the rear of the bridge-wall A, by which means they may be readily removed.

At the rear and bottom of the boiler and connected with the pipes D, I place a muddrum, H, provided in the usual manner with a hand-hole, h, Fig. 3, for cleaning the same.

Above the tubes B B, and preferably at an equal distance from the headers G O at either end,I place a steam-drnm,I. By this arrangement the pipes E E may be of equal length and interchangeable. The pipes E should be in a horizontal position, in which case, if the water-line is preserved so as to but partially fill the pipes E,the steam may separate largely therefrom in said pipes before reaching the steam-drum, thereby adding more than one- I third to the effective separating-surface. To

further facilitate said separation I place a diaphragm, I, in the drum I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or in any manner to prevent imme' diate egress through the steam eduction-pipe J on the top ofsaid drum, which, inasmuch as the same is applicable to all steam-boilers, will of itself, as stated, form the subject of a separate application.

In Fig. 2 the arrows indicate the steam as traveling in opposite directions, passing the ends of the diaphragm I and meeting at the ednetion-pipe .I. It is obvious that the steam may be made to travel a greater distance, and that the same result may be obtained, by having an opening or passage-way at but one end of said diaphragm and placing the eductionpipe J at the opposite end of the drum I. Said drum is provided with the usual man-hole, covered by the platet' and secured by the bolt 1" and crow-foot 1'.

Above the pipes E and the'drum I, I place a covering or dome, A, preferably constructed of or lined with suitable non-conducting material to prevent the radiation of heat. A space may be left between the pipes and drum and said casing in which the heat may circulate, thus forming a superheating surface above the water-line.

A plate, K, Fig. 1, lined with fire'clay or a like noncondnctor of heat, is placed over the upper end of the tubes B B, preferably in the manner indicated in said figure, with the caps projecting through; or said plate may, if desired, be made to cover said caps, with doors in the same for access thereto.

A door, L, in the rear, gives access to the lower end of the tubes, while a damper, M,

permits the escape of the products of combustion. Said damper to procure the best results should extend across the entire width of the flue, which construction causes the gases to be diffused over a wide space as they leave the heated chamber, instead of being concentrated at a single point, thus tending to preserve a more uniform heat or circulation over all parts of the tubes.

In front of the bridge-wall A, and above the grate a, I place an arch, A", which serves to bring the products of combustion in direct contact with the front end of the tubes B B, thus increasing the length of travel of said gases.

A suitable door, a, is provided for the admission of fuel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In a water tube boiler, the flexible headers consisting of laterally-curved couplings for the purpose of staggering the tubes, said couplings being connected by means of straight vertical pipes, each alternate horizontal row of inclined tubes being united by and each alternate vertical row being in line with said vertical connecting-pipes, substan tially as described.

2. In a water-tube boiler, the flexible header consisting of the casting O and the connectingpipe D, arranged and combined with suitable tubes, in the manner and for the uses and purposes set forth, substantially as described.

3. A water-tube boiler having the connecting-pipes of the headers arranged in a straight line and provided with suitable openings in the top series of headers for the insertion of a mandrel, whereby said connecting-pipes may be readily expanded in position, substantially as-deseribed.

AMASA \VOR'IHINGTON.

\Vitnesses:

GRANVILLE W. BROWNING, D. H. FLETCHER. 

